Convoy ON 161 Cruising OrderDeparted Liverpool on Jan. 12-1943 and arrived New York on the 31st (Arnold Hague says 43 ships).

Transcribed from several documents received from Roger Griffiths (his source: Public Records Office, Kew).

For info, some of the ships in this convoy had previously arrived the U.K. withHX 219 (see also HX 218)
Note also that a few later returned to the U.K. in Febr.-1943 with HX 226 or HX 228.

Br=British, Norw=Norwegian, Du=Dutch, Am=American, Pa=Panamanian.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

11 *
Tanafjord
(Norw)

21 *
Bodegraven
(Du)

31 *
Diomed
(Br)

41
City of Glasgow(Br)

51
Empire Strength
(Br)

61
Montevideo
(Norw)

71
Ancylus
(Br)

81

91
Waterland
(Du)

101
Clam
(Br)

111
Vav
Guantanamo
(Norw)

121

12

22 *
Ascot
(Br)

32 *
Teucer
(Br)

42
Cape Porpoise(Br?)

52
Pan-Delaware
(Am)

62
Fagerfjell
Guantanamo
(Norw)

72
Empire Gold
(Br)

82

92
Clausina
Guantanamo
(Br)

102
Velma
(Norw)

112
Empire Collins
(Br)

122

13 *
Fort Maurepas
(Br)

23 *
Congonian(Br)

33 *
Inchanga
(Br)

43
Exford
(Am)

53
Orville Harden
(Pa)

63
O. B. Sørensen
(Norw)

73
British Pride
Galveston
(Br)

83
Manchester Exporter
Philadelphia
(Br)

93
San Veronico
Guantanamo
(Br)

103
Empire Cobbett
(Br)

113

123
Stanlodge
(Br)

14 *
Fort Cataraqui
(Br)

24 *
Baarn
(Du)

34 *
Clan Farquhar
(Br)

44

54

64

74

84
Naranio
Guantanamo
(Br)

94

104

114
Modavia
Halifax
(Br)

124
Gatineau Park
Halifax
(Br)

15

25

35

45
Campfire
(Am)

55 *
Thistlemuir
(Br)

65
Fort McMurray
(Br)

75Herbert L. Pratt
(Am)
oiler

85
Standard
(Pa)

95
Empire Envoy
(Br)

105
Richard H. Alvey
(Am)

115

125

Ships in stations denoted * were bound for West and South African and South American ports, the remainder for New York, New York f/o and New York F.O.R.

Additionally, the American Paramie joined from St. John's, N.F. at 20:00 on Jan. 26, in 43 35N 52 25W.
The American Pontiac joined from Argentia, N.F. at 17:30 on Jan. 27, in 43 25N 56 23W,
and The British Fort Townshend joined from Halifax at 14:30 on Jan. 28, in 43 25N 61 10W.

Notes:
Commodore R. G. Clayton, R.N.R. was in Ancylus, Vice Commodore was J. Elliot D.S.O., R.D., R.N.R. in Waterland, Rear Commodore was the captain of City of Glasgow.

The convoy had 43 ships, 20 of which were present on arrival at Local Escort Rendezvous.
Average speed: 7.79 knots (daily positions of convoy are available on request via the contact address provided at the bottom of this page).

The Commodore says
that ships kept well together until the night of Jan. 23/24 when a severe gale was encountered. Visibility was low owing to fog and snow until the morning of Jan. 25, when 10 ships had become stragglers. Periods of bad weather and low visibility were frequent during the remainder of the voyage.

The majority of the ships in the convoy were diesel fuelled - smoke control of the remainder was good.

Empire Strength was not detached due to damage to lifeboats and deck fittings.

Empire Gold was not detached because of shortage of fresh water and supply on board being reported as undrinkable.

H. W. Charlton, the Captain of Empire Envoy, wrote a letter on the scattering of this convoy to the Ministry of War Transport, dated Jan. 27-1943, and stating the following:
"I wish to acquaint you of the facts which caused the above convoy to become disorganised, through in my opinion, bad handling and seamanship, and I trust it will be in your power to have commodores of convoys instructed that on the approach of threatening weather they should signal generally to the ships in convoy, and ask them if they think weather conditions require heaving to on a more favourable course, instead of carrying on regardless of weather on a set course and speed.

Leaving U.K. on the 12th January bad weather was experienced more or less throughout, it being the normal weather for the season. On the 23rd January the day opened with the barometer at 28.32 and a N.W. gale blowing and increasing seas and threatening conditions. By afternoon a whole gale was blowing and a terrific sea was running, and the convoy was running in the trough of the sea. After dark the storm was at its height, and I was unable to steer the convoy course and keep convoy speed, although my engine speed was 11 1/2 knots. It appeared that other ships were in similar difficulties. By daylight on the 24th only two ships were in the vicinity. Nos 123 and 55.

Having no rendezvous given I had to make for an intermediate port for instructions, with the resultant loss of time".